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Hudson's Max Hawksford keeps his eyes on the ball while following through on a return in his match at No. 2 singles against Jordan Hampton of Baldwin-Woodville last Tuesday. Hawksford defeated Hampton to help the Raiders sweep the Blackhawks, 7-0. Photo by Bob Burrows

sports The Raider boys' tennis team won its third straight dual match of the season in impressive fashion Thursday afternoon by defeating Menomonie, 6-1, in the Big Rivers Conference opener for both teams at the high school courts.
Earlier in the week the Raiders rolled to a 7-0 nonconference victory over...
River Falls, 54022

River Falls Wisconsin 2815 Prairie Drive / P.O. Box 25 54022

2013-06-13 09:29:49

The Raider boys' tennis team won its third straight dual match of the season in impressive fashion Thursday afternoon by defeating Menomonie, 6-1, in the Big Rivers Conference opener for both teams at the high school courts.

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Earlier in the week the Raiders rolled to a 7-0 nonconference victory over Baldwin-Woodville last Tuesday.

After hosting Tartan in a nonconference match Monday, April 20, the Raiders will return to BRC action at River Falls Thursday, April 23 at 4 p.m. before competing in a tournament in Shakopee on Saturday, April 25.

Hudson head coach Jon Hilding said beating Menomonie last Thursday was a great way to start the conference season.

"Menomonie has a solid team, so I was impressed by the play of the Raiders," he said. "Our lone loss came at No. 1 singles where Vitor Linhares played well but came up just short against a very fine Menomonie player."

Linhares lost 4-6, 4-6, to the Indians' Gui Silva but the rest of the Raiders were solid, with only Ben Duerst at No. 3 singles being pushed to three sets. Duerst battled back from a 5-7 loss in the first set against Xavier Schwartz to win the next two, 6-0, 6-2.

"Ben Duerst showed great determination after dropping the first set," Hilding said. "He raised his level of play and took control of the rest of the match for the win."

"Max Hawksford continues to impress with his ability to move his opponent around the court and out away shots," Hilding said. "Saajan Bhakta was very steady, outlasting his opponent in a tough first set and then playing a strong second set."

"Stephen Hilding and Joe Hanson took the offensive and really kept in control of the match," Jon Hilding said. "Josh Szyman and Eric Kromer were also impressive, repeatedly forcing their opponent out of position and hitting the open shots. Nick Yannarelly and Ryan Hanes showed they are also ready for a good season."

Two days earlier at home against Baldwin-Woodville, the Raiders won every match in straight sets on their way to a 7-0 victory over the Blackhawks.

In doubles play, Szyman and Kromer posted a 6-1, 6-1 win over Alex Buechter and Dan Peterson at the No. 1 spot, Hilding and Hanson rolled to a 6-0, 6-0, win over Seth Kersten and Taylor Zimmerman at No. 2, and Yannarelly and Hanes picked up a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Mark Serier and Tommy Huenink at No. 3.

"Our doubles play was very impressive, with all three positions controlling their matches from start to finish," Hilding said. "Our singles play was solid, as the players took charge of the matches early and did not let up."

Bob Burrows has been sports editor at the River Falls Journal since 1996 and at the Hudson Star-Observer since 2009. Prior to joining the Journal, Burrows served as sports editor with Ledger Publications in Balsam Lake, Wis. A native of Bayonne, N.J. and a U.S. Navy veteran, Burrows attended Marquette University before completing his studies at UW-River Falls in 1992.